Intent and direction are certainly part of it but there are many more factors to be taken into consideration. Russell is attending and teaching on my summer course next week in the Czech Republic and we will be continuing our work on my 8 principles, Taiki system and Yang Tai Chi, so in November you should see some of our 'shared' info coming through. I'm in Cyprus again in October to continue our research maybe I'll try and make November...

Systema is not about internal, chi, or any of that nonsense, it's common sense...If you get hit in the left of your chest, the right comes forward, bring your arm with it and hit. No voo doo magig or anything just the way the body works!

What nonsense are you talking about? If you`re thinking about my mentioning of energy, I may have chose the wrong words. If someone gives you a straight punch then he is giving you one type of energy, if he gives you a hook he gives you a different tipe of energy... I think it has the same meaning if I say redirect the punch or redirect the energy you opponent is giving you. I guess I should`ve been more specific.

Quote:If you get hit in the left of your chest, the right comes forward, bring your arm with it and hit.

Looks like absorbing and redirecting the energy to me, just in different words.

Quote:Strange how it just doesn't occur to some of these guys that either their teachers have no depth or they are simply unable to understand what they're being taught.

Anyone here do Systema? Why do they call something the 'System' when it doesn't appear to have one...

Are you thinking of me? Good question, systema looks more like improvization to me than a system. Maybe a system of improvization? BTW, thanks for the answers Bossman.

I was thinking of thinking of the apparently closed mind of the systema guy - some of the systema guys I know in the UK are very open minded, but the name does seem a bit of a paradox, maybe I'll ask them and post the answer here.

Sorry bud when you said "re-directing energy" I thought you were talking about some kind of supernatural force like David Carradine putting out candles from across a room. My apologies. And to BOSSMAN, I hear what you are saying about the System or lack there of, I don't think I could give tyhe explanation any justice but my instrutor put it great... however I can't remember what he said so I got nothing. I believe "the System" comes from taking what they feel to be the most effective moves from all the different systems the Russians encountered throughout history and put them into one system, "the System". I think the spontaneous aspect of the System is great. Fights are very spontaneous. You got to be able to work with what you got and make something out of it. Again sorry, but I just don't buy the whole chi bussiness.

Yeah that's the right guy. Vladimir is the man when it comes to Systema. He is world renowned and you probably wont find an article about the art without his name somewhere in it. I train with two of his former students just outside of Toronto. The guy that trained him is the Russian equivelent to Bruce Lee.Trained from the age of 5 with one of Stalen's Falcons...personal bodygaurds...which orgonized the System into a recognized martial art.